1. Kansas

Takes last shot: Good luck guarding Ben McLemore, a 6-foot-5 freshman who attacks the basket and shoots 50 percent from the field.

Best, worst: Beat Ohio State, 74-66. Lost to TCU, 62-55.

Outlook: When the Jayhawks get set in their halfcourt defense, no team is tougher, but a running team might be able to give them trouble in transition.

2. Georgetown

HOYAS

Big East at-large (25-6)

Takes last shot: When the game is on the line, it's pretty safe to rely on Otto Porter, the Big East and potential National Player of the Year.

Best, worst: Beat Louisville, 53-51. Lost to South Florida, 61-58.

Outlook: Like fellow Big East Final Four candidate Louisville, the Hoyas have a stout defense and plenty of questions on offense, but are still a legitimate Final Four contender.

3. Florida

GATORS

SEC at-large (26-7)

Takes last shot: Erik Murphy led the SEC in 3-point shooting percentage for most of this season, and on a team full of streaky shooters, he's the best

bet.

Best, worst: Beat Missouri, 83-52. Lost to Arkansas, 80-69

Outlook: This is a solid team — no superstars, no signature victories, no terrible losses — but not dynamic and not likely to make a long run.

4. Michigan

WOLVERINES

Big Ten at-large (26-6)

Takes last shot: One of the favorites for National Player of the Year, Trey Burke is arguably the nation's best and most clutch point guards.

Best, worst: Beat Michigan State, 58-57. Lost to Penn State, 84-78.

Outlook: A stumble through February and March and a tough loss to Indiana at the end of the regular season has some questioning whether the Wolverines can contend for a national title.

5. VCU

RAMS

Atlantic 10 at-large (26-8)

Takes last shot: It's not difficult to locate Troy Daniels, who at one point this season had attempted 192 shots from 3-point range, compared to 25 from

2-point range.

Best, worst: Beat Memphis, 78-65. Lost to Wichita State, 53-51.

Outlook: The Rams play a level of chaotic defense not seen by most, which will make them a difficult game-plan matchup on short notice during the tournament.

6. UCLA

BRUINS

Pac-12 at-large (25-9)

Takes last shot: Some might say Shabazz Muhammad, but Larry Drew II has three winning shots this season and is on fire as of late.

Best, worst: Beat Arizona, 84-73. Lost to Cal Poly SLO, 70-68.

Outlook: UCLA looks like a potential second-weekend candidate, given its recent Pac-12, regular-season title run, but a prolonged run will be on the shoulders of UCLA's freshmen, minus injured Jordan Adams.

7. San Diego State

AZTECS

Mountain West at-large (22-10)

Takes last shot: UCLA fans will (not-so-fondly) remember Jamaal Franklin for torching the Bruins for 28 points in Anaheim in December.

Best, worst: Beat New Mexico, 55-34. Lost to Wyoming, 58-45.

Outlook: Expectations were high early, but the Aztecs were surprisingly mediocre in conference play, so perhaps they peaked too early in the season.

8. North Carolina

TAR HEELS

ACC at-large (24-10)

Takes last shot: P.J. Hairston didn't join the starting lineup until late in the season, but the sophomore guard is averaging 17 points since his inclusion.

Best, worst: Beat UNLV, 79-73. Lost to Texas,

85-67.

Outlook: A switch to a four-guard starting lineup gave the Tar Heels a late-season boost, and an impressive conference-tournament performance opened some eyes as well.

9. Villanova

WILDCATS

Big East at-large (20-13)

Takes last shot: On an inconsistent offense, JayVaughn Pinkston has been one of its best and most important scorers.

Best, worst: Beat Louisville, 73-64. Lost to Columbia, 75-57.

Outlook: Villanova has been one of the nation's most inconsistent teams with big victories over three top-five teams, so it's almost impossible to know whether the Wildcats will lose in the first round or go on a Cinderella run.

10. Oklahoma

SOONERS

Big 12 at-large (20-11)

Takes last shot: Steven Pledger's quote after a recent game — “If I miss it, so what” — says everything about his mindset with the ball in his hands late.

Best, worst: Beat Kansas, 72-66. Lost to Stephen F. Austin, 56-55.

Outlook: Lon Kruger becomes the first coach to take five teams to the tournament, and this group went 4-1 in neutral-site games this season.

11. Minnesota

GOLDEN GOPHERS

Big Ten at-large (20-10)

Takes last shot: Austin Hollins has been up and down on an up and down squad all season, but he'll more than likely have the ball in his hands in key moments.

Best, worst: Beat Indiana, 77-73. Lost to Northwestern, 55-48.

Outlook: The inconsistent Golden Gophers are trending downward right now with three losses in their last three games, so prolonged tournament success is unlikely.

Outlook: The Zips head to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years, but just the fourth time in school history.

13. South Dakota State

JACKRABBITS

Summit League champion (25-9)

Takes last shot: Summit League player of the year Nate Wolters, a 6-foot-4 senior guard, stands as the nation's fourth-leading scorer, averaging 22.7 points per game on 49 percent shooting and 39 percent on 3-point attempts.

Best, worst: Beat New Mexico, 70-65. Lost to South Dakota, 74-71.

Outlook: The Jackrabbits enter the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season, ridding a four-game winning streak.

14. Northwestern State

DEMONS

Southland champion (23-8)

Takes last shot: With no reliable 3-point threat, DeQuan Hicks is the best option. The 6-7 forward has made 58.6 percent of his shots.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.